PBS Stations To Rebroadcast 1998's 'Lou Reed: Rock And Roll Heart'

Rocker Lou Reed died this week and PBS and WNET Thirteen have announced plans to reair the 1998 "American Masters" documentary "Lou Reed: Rock And Roll Heart" on Thursday, October 31st. The special will air on select PBS stations over the next week including the cable TV World Channel.

Lou Reed: Rock And Roll Heart, An American Masters Special (1998) Film Synopsis

For more than 40-years, Reed has been at the forefront of American avant-garde music, beginning with creation of the Velvet Underground in 1965, a band with artistic and political visions far beyond the popular music of the time. Gritty and realistic, the brutal honesty in Reed's lyrics and sound made him a cultural icon of the disenfranchised throughout the '60s and '70s. With songs like Heroin and All Tomorrow's Parties, he tackled harsh urban realities. His Walk on the Wild Side surprisingly made it to the top of the charts and has become a cultural classic about a taboo, hidden lifestyle. Reed worked with other icons of his day -- Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Laurie Anderson. From punk rock to grunge, he has had an unparalleled influence on the American music scene. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the late '90s and given the prestigious Hero Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, he continues his life-long experimentation as both a writer and performer. Originally broadcast: April 29, 1998. One hour.

For more information on Lou Reed and the American Masters series' Rest in Peace Lou Reed Spotify playlist, featuring 200 of his songs, visit:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/lou-reed/about-lou-reed/687/